George I Statue, University Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, U.K.
Posted by: 
Mike_bjm
N 52° 27.005 W 001° 55.624
30U E 572915 N 5811640
This equestrian statue was originally displayed on Essex Bridge (now Gratten Bridge in Dublin.
Waymark Code: WM11W2D
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/26/2019
Views: 2
This bronze equestrian statue of George 1 was acquired for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at The University of Birmingham in 1937 by its first Director, Thomas Bodkin.
'Perhaps Bodkin's most audaciou achievement was saving a 1722 statute of George 1 from the Irish republicas...Today it graces the front of the Barber [Institute of Fine Arts] and the main entrance to the University of Birmingham.' from 'The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980" An Intoductory History by Eric Ives, Dianne Dummond and Leonard Schwarz (ISBN:1-902459-07-05)
The move to Birmingham was the second time this statue had been moved as noted in a guide book of the City Dublin published in 1825:
'On the lawn beside the Maansion-house [Dublin] is placed an equestrian statue of Goerge I, which originally stood on Essex Bridge, [now Grattan Bridge] but upon being repairing the bridge, which was injured by the weight of the battlements, it was removed to teh garden of the Mansion-house, at the expense of the Corporation.' (
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The sculpture was originally commissioned in 1717 by the Dublin Corporation from the Flemish sculpture Van Nost.
During the hostilities of World War II the statue was encased in brick, and the students siezed on this 'opportunity to hoist a boat on to the top.' from 'The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980" An Intoductory History by Eric Ives, Dianne Dummond and Leonard Schwarz (ISBN:1-902459-07-05)
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